title: Cerebrospinal fluid S-adenosylmethionine in depression and dementia: effects of treatment with parenteral and oral S-adenosylmethionine.
abstract: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) levels were significantly lower in severely depressed patients than in a neurological control group. The administration of SAM either intravenously or orally is associated with a significant rise of CSF SAM, indicating that it crosses the blood-brain barrier in humans. These observations provide a rational basis for the antidepressant effect of SAM, which has been confirmed in several countries. CSF SAM levels were low in a group of patients with Alzheimer's dementia suggesting a possible disturbance of methylation in such patients and the need for trials of SAM treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, King's College Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bottiglieri
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Godfrey
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Flynn
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Carney
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Toone
authors.forename: E H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Reynolds
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000188:drug therapy; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000188:drug therapy; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012436:S-Adenosylmethionine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D012436:S-Adenosylmethionine